Learning Two (Or More) Languages at Once...

[Hunter's Moon]

This is not for school, just for self-advancement and enrichment.

 

The only language in which I am fluent is English. I know enough Spanish to catch the drift of the conversation, but cannot speak it well.

 

My friends take Spanish at college and will be going to Spain for a year for study abroad. Their mother is fluent in Spanish (Latin American) and they are learning it very quickly since they have heard it their whole life.

 

I attend a predominantly Greek speaking Church.

 

I would like to be at least conversational in both Spanish and Greek. The area I live in has a large Spanish population, and Greek will serve me well at my Church.

 

How should I go about both at the same time? They are different enough not to confuse them, but I need ideas on how much time each day, etc.

 

Also, does anyone know of a test where I can see my level in Spanish? Thanks!

[Arcadia]

I'll aim for an hour a day for each language. Watching shows in that language may help improve your Spanish since you can already understand conversations. A lot of movie classics have a Spanish option on the same DVD.

 

Some tests you can look at as a rough gauge

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/gauge/

http://www.nysedregents.org/loteslp/spanish/

http://www.nationalspanishexam.org/index.php/exam-preparation/past-examinations

[Pen]

For Spanish you could go to Duolingo and try the "test out of this skill" places to see if you can do the whole thing, and, if not, then use what it has that might help you. I am using it for Spanish and my son decided to do its German. We are both enjoying it. (It does not have Greek.)

 

As I am following along what he is doing in German, I am getting a bit of a second at the same time language, and think that it works fine having both going on. I consider the similarities and differences. Sometimes even though they are not very related something seems to help remember between the two--for example the words for "to read" are more similar in Spanish (leer) and German (lesen) than in English. I found a way to hook the Spanish word and then hooked the German onto the Spanish.

 

For many modern languages, I think a helpful tool these days for the written and vocabulary building part is online newspapers or wikipedia that one can work on translating with the help of a dictionary and grammar book...and audio learning programs for learning the sound and pronunciation. Shortwave used to help to get broadcasts in other languages, I guess that would now be done by computer. Or maybe with speakers of both languages available you don't so much need to hear it at home, but can just practice what you learn with real people.

 

The Practice Makes Perfect Spanish Conversation book seems good to me if you are at that level.

 

Can you also take classes where your friends are taking theirs?

 

I'd agree with the hour per day each idea, but want to add that more short sessions seem better to me than single long ones. Also carrying a few flash cards around for moments when nothing else is happening can put those moments to productive language learning use.

[bakpak]

I kind of feel a class is the best way to start a new language if you can. It helps to get the basics of grammar/pronunciation down, THEN add on to that yourself with books/movies/conversation/language program. So for the Greek, a class would be best. Of course, this might be true of Spanish as well. But probably, you just need to increase your comfort level and vocabulary at this stage with Spanish.

 

I know there are massive debates about the use of Rosetta Stone, but I personally have had great success with it. I've used it extensively with Spanish, and various amounts with Italian, Portuguese, & French. That learning style works very well for me & I like that it's self-paced. You can skip around as much as you want/need to. Of course, when I was trying it out, I was getting it for free through a University. However, I ended up buying multiple programs because of its good fit and am happy I did so. I use lots of books & some classes too, but RS has been the biggest help for adding vocabulary and remembering it (I like the visual side) & its easy to implement (your schedule).

 

As for how much time per day, figure out the max time you can commit daily (20 min per day, etc) and then have a weekly goal that's even more (3-4 hrs). I've found when studying multiple languages that it's a bit easier to stick to one language a day, at least until you're more fluent. I feel that even multiple days of the same language is often more productive than going back-and-forth. That said, you may want to make great strides with Spanish for 6 months, then switch to hard-core learning Greek for 6 months, plus applying some of the Spanish you've learned on occasion. This would help you gain better footing with one language at a time, and tracking your progression. I can feel bogged down a bit when I don't feel like I'm progressing much because I am doing 2 concurrent languages slowly. If time isn't a big factor and you have hours a day to spare, 2 at once might be okay. A lot of it depends on your time, how quickly you want to learn, and your learning style.

 

Good luck!

[Ariston]

I kind of feel a class is the best way to start a new language if you can. It helps to get the basics of grammar/pronunciation down, THEN add on to that yourself with books/movies/conversation/language program. So for the Greek, a class would be best. Of course, this might be true of Spanish as well. But probably, you just need to increase your comfort level and vocabulary at this stage with Spanish.

 

 

If you have any universities near you you can probably ask a professor to audit a class. That's what I did and it was fantastic...$25 plus the cost of the textbook (which you can often find on amazon used)!!

 

As far as learning multiple languages at once, I don't think its any problem at all for your brain...its just a matter of how much time you have to put in. I think you can make good progress if you are consistent, doing a little every day.

[Hunter's Moon]

Sorry it took me so long (over a month!) to reply. :o Life has been busy, but is finally slowing down a bit.

 

I'll aim for an hour a day for each language. Watching shows in that language may help improve your Spanish since you can already understand conversations. A lot of movie classics have a Spanish option on the same DVD.

 

Some tests you can look at as a rough gauge

http://www.bbc.co.uk.../spanish/gauge/

http://www.nysedrege...oteslp/spanish/

http://www.nationals...st-examinations

 

 

I will take a look at these tests.

 

For Spanish you could go to Duolingo and try the "test out of this skill" places to see if you can do the whole thing, and, if not, then use what it has that might help you. I am using it for Spanish and my son decided to do its German. We are both enjoying it. (It does not have Greek.)

 

As I am following along what he is doing in German, I am getting a bit of a second at the same time language, and think that it works fine having both going on. I consider the similarities and differences. Sometimes even though they are not very related something seems to help remember between the two--for example the words for "to read" are more similar in Spanish (leer) and German (lesen) than in English. I found a way to hook the Spanish word and then hooked the German onto the Spanish.

 

For many modern languages, I think a helpful tool these days for the written and vocabulary building part is online newspapers or wikipedia that one can work on translating with the help of a dictionary and grammar book...and audio learning programs for learning the sound and pronunciation. Shortwave used to help to get broadcasts in other languages, I guess that would now be done by computer. Or maybe with speakers of both languages available you don't so much need to hear it at home, but can just practice what you learn with real people.

 

The Practice Makes Perfect Spanish Conversation book seems good to me if you are at that level.

 

Can you also take classes where your friends are taking theirs?

 

I'd agree with the hour per day each idea, but want to add that more short sessions seem better to me than single long ones. Also carrying a few flash cards around for moments when nothing else is happening can put those moments to productive language learning use.

 

 

My friends go to school out of state, so I cannot attend their classes. The CC I am going to the in the Fall offers Spanish, French, and Mandarin, but no Greek.

 

I have played around with Duolingo a bit, and I like the structure of it overall. I think it is a great tool for jumping off and practicing.

 

I kind of feel a class is the best way to start a new language if you can. It helps to get the basics of grammar/pronunciation down, THEN add on to that yourself with books/movies/conversation/language program. So for the Greek, a class would be best. Of course, this might be true of Spanish as well. But probably, you just need to increase your comfort level and vocabulary at this stage with Spanish.

 

I know there are massive debates about the use of Rosetta Stone, but I personally have had great success with it. I've used it extensively with Spanish, and various amounts with Italian, Portuguese, & French. That learning style works very well for me & I like that it's self-paced. You can skip around as much as you want/need to. Of course, when I was trying it out, I was getting it for free through a University. However, I ended up buying multiple programs because of its good fit and am happy I did so. I use lots of books & some classes too, but RS has been the biggest help for adding vocabulary and remembering it (I like the visual side) & its easy to implement (your schedule).

 

As for how much time per day, figure out the max time you can commit daily (20 min per day, etc) and then have a weekly goal that's even more (3-4 hrs). I've found when studying multiple languages that it's a bit easier to stick to one language a day, at least until you're more fluent. I feel that even multiple days of the same language is often more productive than going back-and-forth. That said, you may want to make great strides with Spanish for 6 months, then switch to hard-core learning Greek for 6 months, plus applying some of the Spanish you've learned on occasion. This would help you gain better footing with one language at a time, and tracking your progression. I can feel bogged down a bit when I don't feel like I'm progressing much because I am doing 2 concurrent languages slowly. If time isn't a big factor and you have hours a day to spare, 2 at once might be okay. A lot of it depends on your time, how quickly you want to learn, and your learning style.

 

Good luck!

 

 

I agree a class would be best, especially for Greek as I only have exposure to that once a week, compared to daily with Spanish.

[Guest danidani]

Songs are a fun way to learn a language. Spanish has always been a language I loved and wanted to learn.

There are many fun children’s musical animation videos in Spanish. You can check out a few of the animation videos on youtube for your children. Here is "Colita Rosita", children's DVD in Spanish.

El Lobo-

El Gatito Peludo-

Hope you enjoy it!